- 1 In State School with a Mostly Online Format
Mississippi has one in-state school offering Pediatric Nurse Practitioner preparation. Both population foci are available — Primary Care and Acute Care — across three degree pathways: MSN, post-baccalaureate DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate.
Delivery is Mostly Online, with face-to-face intensive sessions required on the Jackson campus for the DNP. Resident tuition ranges from roughly $26.8K for the MSN to $38.8K for the DNP. Certificate tuition is individualized and not publicly published.
Because the state has a single provider, most Mississippi nurses can complete PNP education without leaving the state.
Mississippi PNP Programs at a Glance
- Number of schools: 1
- Primary Care available: Yes
- Acute Care available: Yes
- MSN available: Yes
- DNP available: Yes (post-baccalaureate entry)
- Post-Master’s Certificate available: Yes
- Delivery: Mostly Online
- Lowest published tuition: Approximately $26.8K (resident MSN)
- Cost per credit: $596.20 resident, with no additional charge above nine credits per semester
| School | Tracks | Online Format | Campus Commitment | Cost Per Credit | Degrees | Best For |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson) | Primary Care + Acute Care | Mostly Online | Face-to-face intensive sessions in Jackson | $596.20 | MSN, BSN-DNP, Certificate | Experienced pediatric RNs who want a defined population focus at public-medical-center pricing |
Choosing a PNP Program in Mississippi
Who the UMMC Programs Fit Best
Admission is gated by bedside experience rather than test scores — one year of pediatrics for Primary Care, two years of pediatric critical or emergency care for Acute Care, and no GRE. Nurses who already meet those thresholds and hold Mississippi licensure or practice privilege get access to both population tracks at a per-credit rate well below most national PNP programs. Proximity to Jackson also helps, since the school’s affiliation network is strongest there.
Who May Prefer Additional Online Options
Degree tracks admit once a year for fall with a March 15 deadline; certificates admit for spring only. A missed deadline costs twelve months. Applicants who cannot meet the pediatric experience gate, who need rolling or multiple start dates, or who want a fully online program with no campus travel at the doctoral level will find the in-state option restrictive.
When to Compare National Programs
Two pathways are absent in Mississippi entirely: there is no RN-to-MSN bridge and no MSN-to-DNP option — the doctorate is post-baccalaureate only. Applicants on either of those routes must look nationally. Comparison is also worth doing on clinical placement: UMMC assists but does not guarantee placement, and pediatric preceptors are harder to secure than adult ones, particularly for acute care and particularly at a distance from Jackson.
Mississippi BSN-to-MSN PNP Programs
Mississippi offers master’s-level PNP preparation at a single school, with matched Primary Care and Acute Care tracks that share identical credit loads, tuition, and clinical hour requirements.
Applicants who want to weigh more than one master’s option should review the national BSN-to-MSN PNP guide.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Primary Care | $26.8K (resident) | 2 years full-time | 630 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Acute Care | $26.8K (resident) | 2 years full-time | 630 |
- Equal clinical volume: 630 supervised hours applies to both populations, despite the difference in practice setting.
Mississippi BSN-to-DNP PNP Programs
Doctoral PNP education in Mississippi is available only at post-baccalaureate entry, again in both populations. The plan of study runs 71 credits over eight semesters and adds a scholarly project sequence. Applicants comparing multiple doctoral options should review the national BSN-to-DNP PNP guide.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Primary Care | $38.8K (resident) | 3 years full-time | 1,230 total (630 pediatric practicum) |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Acute Care | $38.8K (resident) | 3 years full-time | 1,230 total (630 pediatric practicum) |
- Campus requirement: the DNP adds face-to-face intensive sessions on the Jackson campus, unlike the MSN.
- Population-focused hours match the MSN: only 630 of the 1,230 hours are pediatric practicum; the remainder is doctoral residency and project work.
- Higher admissions bar: a 3.2 nursing GPA plus prior research and statistics coursework, versus 3.0 and no prerequisites for the MSN.
Mississippi Post-Master’s Certificate PNP Programs
Mississippi’s post-graduate APRN certificates serve practicing APRNs adding a pediatric population credential. Plans of study are individualized after transcript review, so credits and cost vary by applicant.
Certificate seekers wanting a wider set of options should review the national Post-Master’s Certificate PNP guide.
| School | Track | Estimated Tuition | Duration | Clinical Hours |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Primary Care | Varies by Plan | 2–3 semesters | 630 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | Acute Care | Varies by Plan | 2–3 semesters | 630 |
- Shortest completion in the state: two to three semesters, against two years for the MSN.
- Full clinical requirement retained: certificate students complete the same 630 supervised hours as degree students, compressed into fewer terms.
- Different application calendar: certificates admit for spring with a September 15 deadline, not the March 15 fall deadline used by degree tracks.
Other Online Programs
Applicants who need multiple start dates, part-time pacing outside a single annual cohort, a guaranteed clinical placement model, or a program with graduate outcomes already on record may want to compare national online PNP programs alongside the in-state option.
Maryville University PNP Programs
St. Louis | $900 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN to DNP / BSN to MSN / DNP
Maryville University provides 100% online PNP options for Mississippi RNs across MSN, BSN-to-DNP, DNP-NP, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks with six start dates per year. Designed with no GRE requirements and self-arranged local clinical placements, the programs require 750 clinical hours focused on health promotion, well-child care, and complex pediatric condition management. Billed at $900 to $995 per credit hour, Maryville prepares Mississippi graduates to achieve strong board certification pass rates while pursuing advanced practice roles.
Purdue University PNP Programs
West Lafayette | $500 to $600 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Purdue University’s School of Nursing offers distance-friendly MS, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master’s Certificate Primary Care PNP pathways for practicing nurses in Mississippi. With affordable estimated tuition between $15,000 and $30,000, the hybrid format blends online coursework with 630 to 1,000+ supervised clinical hours covering pediatric care from infancy through young adulthood. Mississippi students gain rigorous instruction in advanced pharmacology, health assessment, and system leadership while completing required clinical preceptorships in approved local facilities.
Rasmussen University PNP Programs
Bloomington | $915 cpc | Certificate / BSN to MSN
Rasmussen University delivers MSN-NP and Post-Graduate Certificate tracks in Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP) practice through a flexible online competency-based model available to Mississippi healthcare workers. The curriculum combines self-paced study in pediatric health promotion and complex care with four local community practicums and a single on-campus weekend residency. Spanning 21 to 27 months with total estimated tuition and fees of $29,087 to $51,130, these CCNE-accredited options allow Mississippi RNs to advance their credentials without weekly deadline constraints.
Walden University Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
Minneapolis | $785 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / BSN to MSN
Walden University offers online DNP, MSN, and Post-Master’s Certificate tracks in Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) practice for registered nurses residing in Mississippi. The program utilizes a quarter-credit model featuring virtual skills labs, case-based reviews, and Practicum Pledge® assistance to support Mississippi students in securing local clinical placements. Estimated tuition spans from ~$35,690 for the certificate to ~$76,415 for the DNP, giving Mississippi nurses accessible pathways to gain specialized training in child growth, developmental milestones, and acute or chronic illness management.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many PNP programs are available in Mississippi?
One school. The University of Mississippi Medical Center offers six PNP tracks across MSN, post-baccalaureate DNP, and post-graduate APRN certificate pathways.
Does Mississippi offer an Acute Care PNP program?
Yes. UMMC offers Acute Care at all three levels. Admission requires at least two years of RN experience in pediatric critical or emergency care; inpatient pediatric experience may be considered.
Are any Mississippi PNP programs fully online?
The programs are classified Mostly Online. The DNP adds required face-to-face intensive sessions on the Jackson campus. Campus requirements for the MSN and certificate tracks are Not clearly stated .
Which Mississippi program has the lowest estimated tuition?
Among published figures, the MSN tracks at approximately $26.8K resident. Certificate tuition is vaires because plans of study are individualized.
Which Mississippi schools offer a DNP?
UMMC only, at post-baccalaureate entry in both Primary Care and Acute Care. There is no MSN-to-DNP pathway published in the state.
Can students complete clinicals locally?
Placement is student-secured with school assistance rather than guaranteed. UMMC reports more than 200 affiliated sites, preceptors must have two years of experience, and placements must be secured the semester before clinicals begin.